Coal Country, the new film about coal mining, could be considered kin to the film Food, Inc., covering the dirty coal energy issue instead of dirty food issues, and Big Coal probably wishes the movie would just disappear…
For those of us who don’t live in a coal mining region, how can we understand the local environmental impacts of mountaintop removal mining (MTR), or the health and water problems for both the miners and other local residents? Coal Country takes us inside modern coal mining, from Big Coal officials down to Big Coal’s employees, and over to those who just witness the effects.
“Both sides in this conflict claim that history is on their side. Families have lived in the region for generations and most have ancestors who worked in the mines. Everyone shares a deep love for the land, but MTR is tearing them apart.
Are the people fighting against mountaintop removal really protecting the earth, or do they stand in the way of affordable energy for all Americans? What is behind promises of “cheap energy” and “clean coal.” Are they achievable, and at what cost? And what are the alternatives for our energy future?” – WV Gazette
Coal Country premieres July 11th, in South Charleston, West Virginia.
Image: unanimousgraphics at Flickr under CC License
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For most of us, the realities of coal mining are “out of sight, out of mind”. Thanks for putting it out there for all to see and understand.